Claire's 3rd Birthday - Part One

We did a lot to celebrate our girl's 3rd birthday! The day started with Mommy and Daddy taking Claire to breakfast at Order Up for breakfast tacos and cinnamon rolls while Will stayed home with Nana.

While Daddy was at work, the rest of us went to the mall to buy Claire some new BLUE shoes (her special request)! Her old Crocs were way too small, so it was time for a new pair. She didn't want to take them off after trying them on and wore them out of the store.

After grabbing a quick lunch, we had a special treat of gelato. I planned for Claire to share mine, but she ended up eating most of Nana's.

That night she got to open her present from Aunt Nancy before we celebrated our friend Harrison's birthday and got ready for her party the next day.

Saturday morning we drove to the Mc Kenna Children's Museum in New Braunfels for Claire's party. They had a special message for Claire waiting in the party room!

Since Claire is obsessed with all things blue, we had a "Blue's Clues" party theme. She was very excited about her cake.

As in, rolling around on the floor excited.

We attempted a few family photos before most of the guests arrived.

Claire had so much fun playing in the museum with her friends!

Then it was time for snacks and cake! She blew out all the candles in one shot.

We had a little more playtime before we had to leave. Will stayed entertained with his favorite ball.

Chair Pics - 5 Months

Will is 5 months old (Week 21)! It really seems like it's going faster this time.

Happy Birthday Claire

Dear Claire, My darling girl...how is it possible that you are already 3 years old? It seems like it's only been a few weeks since we met you for the first time.

The past 3 years have been filled with more laughter and joy than I knew was possible. You are turning into quite the little comedian, and you love to make your mommy, daddy and little brother laugh.

The past few months have brought some big changes in your life, and you've handled them with more maturity than I could have ever expected from a toddler. Obviously the biggest change has been the arrival of Will. You absolutely adore your little brother, and you get so excited each time you see him. He's pretty fond of you, too - I think you get the biggest smiles and laughs from him.

Although you're not a big talker, your vocabularly continues to grow each day, and there is no doubt that you understand (and remember!) just about everything we say. We love to watch your analytical mind at work. You spend hours each week playing with your Legos, puzzles, and matching game. You also love all of your play food and are always bringing us pieces of pizza, cookies or cupcakes that you've decorated with your favorite toppings. TV isn't something that holds your attention for very long, except when we are on long car rides. You do like to watch Blue's Clues and Elmo (Thomas has fallen out of favor) for about 10 minutes in the mornings or in the evening after dinner. I'm glad that you would rather play, and I hope that continues as you get older.

You are small in size, but big in appetite. You will eat a fairly large variety of foods for someone your age. Lately you've tried and liked: tacos, hummus, celery, "ants on a log", and guacamole. Your favorites are still peanut butter, applesauce and yogurt. I don't know where all of that food goes - your teachers say that you eat more and finish lunch more quickly than most of your classmates!

Lately you have really been testing your boundaries. While at times this is frustrating for all of us, we know that this phase will end (eventually, right?) and that it is part of your development. You are growing so fast!

Overall, you are an incredibly sweet, loving, helpful, beautiful girl, and I am eternally blessed that you are my child. God has given me more than I could ever imagine, and I pray that you will grow to know and love Him as your heavenly Father and Savior in the years to come.

Happy birthday sweet girl!

Love, Mommy

Note to all you readers out there - please leave a comment wishing Claire a "Happy Birthday", even you lurkers who never say anything. :) I'm going to include them all in our blog book for this year so she will be able to keep them. Thanks!

Project Life: Week 13

March 28 -April 3 


Tuesday

Claire was really excited about her birthday card (& present!) from Great-Grandmommy and Great-Granddaddy!

Wednesday

Claire had her first dentist appointment today, and she was amazing! She did such a great job, and we were happy to get a good report on her teeth. That little mouth is looking good!


Thursday

Will looked super cute laying on Claire's bed tonight while I was helping Claire with the potty - glad the camera was close by.


Friday

Another visit to the pediatrician for Will, and another nebulizer to take home for breathing treatments. Fortunately, his RSV test was negative - just lots of congestion and coughing. Poor little guy!


Saturday

Claire was nice enough to share her Elmo with Will for a few minutes - he thought Elmo was hilarious.


Sunday

Today was the last day our church met at Reagan HS, and after the service we attended an open house at the new church building to check out the layout. As part of the open house, each person wrote their name and a scripture reference on a rock and laid it at the foot of the cross set up near the entrance to the church. Claire and Will shared a rock, and the reference on their rock is Matthew 19:14, "Jesus said, 'Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.'"

Claire's First Visit to the Dentist

Yesterday Claire had her first dentist appointment. I had been putting it off for a few months - as shy as she is, I was worried that it would be a complete disaster. Robert arranged to be there, so I at least knew that together we'd be able to handle it, and the office assured me that they would only do as much as she was comfortable with. We had a bit of luck with the fact that her school was learning about "Community Workers" that week, and on Monday they learned about the dentist. They practiced "flossing" on an upside down egg carton and talked a lot about how the dentist looks at your teeth. After her lesson, she was excited about her appointment. When we arrived, Claire was excited to play with the video games, puzzles, toys, etc. in the waiting room. It was a good start! We walked with the hygienist back to her station, and Claire eagerly climbed into the chair. She looked so tiny, but like such a big girl at the same time!

They gave her little sunglasses to wear so that the big light wouldn't be in her eyes, and she felt pretty cool in her glasses.

After a few pictures of her teeth, the exam and cleaning started. She wanted to hold my hand, but sat perfectly still the entire time. We were amazed! Our shy baby was letting a stranger put her hands in her mouth without flinching? She did such a great job!

After the hygienist was done, she gave Claire a goody bag, let her pick a toy out of the treasure chest, and made her a balloon animal. Then, she got to ride the Donald Duck ride while we were waiting for the dentist to come over to complete the exam.

We got a picture with Dr. Bob (he dresses up like a character every day - today he was Mr. Potato Head) to commemorate her first visit, and then we were on our way with a healthy snack. Claire now thinks the dentist's office is one of the most fun places around and can't wait for her next appointment.

Celebrating Daddy's Birthday

Robert's birthday was on the 29th, and being a weekday, we just had a very small celebration at home. I picked up a couple of cupcakes from Gigi's (Key Lime Pie and Chocolate Turtle - yum!) and had a gift ready when he got home from work. Claire was super excited about the cupcakes, and the three of us enjoyed sharing them. Happy birthday to my wonderful husband!

Torticollis

As I mentioned in Will's 4 month update, we were referred to a pediatric physical therapist and a pediatric neurosurgeon to evaluate Will's neck muscles and his head shape. Since birth he has favored turning his head to his right side (likely due to congenital torticollis), and as a result, he has a little bit of a flat spot on that side. We've tried positioning him where looking to his left would be more entertaining, and while things have improved over time, it has been a bit of a struggle. Last week we saw the physical therapist, and she did an evaluation of his neck and told me that she thought his case was pretty mild. She gave us some exercises to do several times a day and some additional tips on how to get him to spend more time looking to the left. She also said that she'd seen kids with worse plagiocephaly see lots of improvement with just physical therapy, so that was encouraging. Today Robert and I were both able to go to the appoinment to the neurosurgeon. He evaluated Will's head shape and told us that the plagio was mild to moderate, and that he also thought we would see a lot of improvement with the exercises and positioning. He did go ahead and give us a prescription for a helmet, but he said that it would only be needed purely for cosmetic reasons and that he didn't think the plagio would affect his facial symmetry to untrained eyes - and that he wouldn't have any issues with wearing helmets later if he is in sports activities. :) As we left, Robert and I both decided that we felt like we will not pursue the helmet immediately. We still have a month of so to make a final decision, and in that time hopefully we'll see even more improvement. Both appointments were very encouraging! We go back for another PT appointment next week, so we're looking forward to seeing what she says after a couple of weeks of work.

Project Life: Week 12

March 21 - 27

Tuesday

Claire requested smoothies after school today, and I was happy to oblige. Yum!

Friday

Today we had a playdate with Isabella, Megan & their mommies. We've been talking about getting together for a long time and finally made it happen. Claire had a fabulous time on Megan's new playset, and I loved getting some great girl time with some fellow moms in the same lifestage. Can't wait to do it again!

Saturday

Nana, Claire, Will and I went to the grocery store while Robert and Granddaddy worked outside. Claire was hungry and picked out a fruit salad for a snack. I don't know where she puts it all!

Sunday

Claire woke up from her nap around the time I was taking Will's weekly chair photo (a couple days late - shhhh!!), and she was a little jealous of the attention he was getting and tried to get in a couple of the photos. I tried to get a cute one of both of them together, but she just wanted to be in the chair with him. Not quite as easy this week to get a good photo, but I was happy with this one for Will's 19th week.

Playdate!

We've been going to our church for over two years now, and for almost the entire time, there have been two fellow moms that I've been wanting to get to know better. They both went to A&M, they both have daughters close to age in Claire (I think all 3 of them were born within a month of each other), and now, we all have babies that are close in age. The three of us got together for a playdate on Friday, and Claire and I had so much fun (Will stayed home with Nana and Granddaddy). The girls got along so well, and Claire spent most of the time just giggling and having the best time. While they played, the moms were able to get some much needed "girl time". It's just so nice to find other women to talk to who are in the same stage of life. From potty training toddlers & sleepless nights with newborns to maintaining life balance, we covered lots of topics and didn't come close to running out of things to say. I'm really looking forward to our - I mean the girls' - next playdate! :)

In the sandbox

Pure joy!

Such a great multi-tasker

Project Life: Week 11

March 14 - 20

Wednesday

Today was an errand day, and I took the minivan in for it's first oil change. Having a car tell me when it needs maintenance is new for me - I guess that's what happens when you drive the same vehicle for 11 years!

Thursday

Will has really started to enjoy his buddy Sophie. He has been a chewing machine, and I am waiting for a tooth to appear at any time. His big sister got her teeth pretty early, so we are wondering if he will follow in her footsteps in this area of growth, especially since he is taking his own path for height and weight. :)

Friday

School was closed today for Spring Break, so Claire, Will and I enjoyed a day together. We printed invitations for Claire's birthday party, got the car washed, and made a trip to Costco before heading home for lunch. They both fell asleep on the way home, but Claire woke up pretty soon afterwards to eat her Costco pizza slice.

Saturday

Haircut time! This one was the easiest yet. Claire was mesmerized by the "Olivia" DVD, and the lollipop bribe definitely helped with keeping her still. I always said I wouldn't use candy as a bribe - another instance where I've learned to never say "never"! We were glad that Ma was able to join us.

Tonight we grilled fajitas on the patio and enjoyed the nice weather outside. I kicked off my new Toms, and Claire carefully placed her shoes next to mine. I wonder if we will ever wear the same size?

Sunday

Bob took a rare photo of the 4 of us plus Ma. Someday we will get a photo with all of us looking at the camera!

Will always enjoys having visitors - extra hands to hold him!

Will - 18 Weeks

Will turned 18 weeks old on 3/18/11:

He has turned into a drool monster! He will gnaw on anything he can get into his mouth, and we are wondering how long it will be until we see his first tooth. Claire got hers when she was about 5 months old, so it wouldn't surprise me at all if we see it soon. He cracks me up at how hard he will work to get something (usually his hand or thumb) into his mouth - he will almost double over when sitting in the Bumbo since he hasn't quite figured out that it's easier to bring your hand to your face that try to move your entire body to get to your hand.

I swear he gets cuter every day. He smiles and laughs so easily now and is still just an absolute joy to be around. I love my chunky monkey!!!

Will at 4 Months

Will turned 4 months old on 3/11/11.

The poor guy decided to celebrate by getting sick. :( He had a low grade fever for a couple of days and started waking up several times each night, so I took him to the pedi on Friday. He tested negative for RSV (thank goodness!), so they just sent us home with a nebulizer for some breathing treatments. He seemed to feel better with each passing day, and last night only woke up once, so I think he is on the mend.

His 4 month check-up was on Monday, and his stats are:

Weight: 16 lbs. 9 oz (80th percentile)
Height: 26 inches (80th percentile)
Head size: 16.75 inches

He's dropped a few percentiles in weight but has gone up quite a bit in height. The doctor is now thinking he will weigh as much as Claire by the time he is one. :) Considering that she weighed 16 1/2 lbs when she turned 1, I would not be surprised if his prediction is correct!

We were given the okay to start solid foods whenever we're ready+, but I think we will wait another month. We also left with a referral to a pediatric physical therapist and neurologist. Will has favored turning his head to one side since birth , so we need to work on his neck muscles and get his head shape evaluated. This was not a surprise as this is something we've been watching the entire time, and I'm glad that we have a pediatrician who is proactive.

Will is such a sweet, smiley, happy baby. He has found his voice and loves to entertain us with his little babbles and squeals. He is completely entertained by his big sister and enjoys watching her antics - I'm sure he is wondering when he'll be able to join in! We let him try out the doorway jumper this week, and he LOVES it. He'll happily play in it for 30+ minutes. I'll post a video soon of one of his first times it in - he figured it out really quickly. He's grabbing at anything he can reach and is a pro at getting things in his mouth, but his favorite things to chew on are his fingers, my shoulder, and Sophie the Giraffe.

We love our Will!

Project Life: Week 10

March 7 - 13

Tuesday

Will was so tired when we got home from school and fell asleep in my arms. He enjoyed his early evening nap and woke up to take a bath and eat before going to bed. Later we realized that he was getting sick. :(

Thursday

I had my camera out and was trying to get a couple of photos of Claire. Instead of smiling, she just kept saying "I see! I see!" which means that she wanted to look at the pictures on the camera screen. She saw. :)

Friday

Will seemed to be feeling better, but we decided that we should take him to the doctor anyway just in case - things always seem to get worse over the weekend. They were very busy and we had a longer wait that usual, but he waited very patiently.

Tonight Will got to try out the doorway jumper for the first time. He figured it out right away and had a great time bouncing around. Such a cutie!

Saturday

At snacktime, Claire wanted raisins and peanut butter, so I gave her a new snack to try - "Ants on a Log" (celery with peanut butter and raisins). It was a big hit, and she kept asking for more. I was glad to find another way to get some healthy food in her!

Sunday

This afternoon we looked at playsets, and Claire loved getting to test them out.

Potty Training Success!

Ugh, potty training! With everything we've had going on (primarily the arrival of Will!), we put PTing on the back burner, but recently decided that it was time to go for it. We bought Claire some Elmo underwear and let her wear it a couple of weekends. She did pretty well, but would get upset after a couple of accidents and ask for a diaper or a pull up, so we would change her and let it go for awhile. Last week, though, we talked to her teachers at school, and we all agreed that she was never going to learn unless we started sending her to school in underwear. The kid can happily wear a wet diaper for hours, so she was not going to PT herself. :)

We talked about it with Claire a lot over the weekend, and sent her to school in Elmo underwear on Monday. So, how did she do???

NO ACCIDENTS!!!

I was completely shocked when I picked her up and found out she'd gone all day without any problems (they did put a pull up on her at naptime, which we are planning to do for awhile). We got home, and while she was obviously annoyed with my constant prodding to use the potty, she eventually went. I'd been trying to avoid any bribes or giving her candy, but it definitely motivates her, so I'll worry later about weaning her off rewards. :) I told her that I would give her one M&M if she used the potty after I asked her to go, but that I would give her 2 M&M's if she came to me and told me she needed to go - and actually did. There were a few times last night where she would cry "Oh no!" and I would think she'd had an accident, but each time she managed to hold it until we got to the bathroom. So, so proud!

She did have a couple of accidents at school today, which I expected, but she did great again at home tonight. It's encouraging to see such good progress so quickly. Go Claire!

Chair Pictures - Weeks 16 & 17

16 weeks - finally captured a little smile!

17 weeks / 4 months:

He's already starting to look like a little boy to me - slow down, baby!

Will's Nursery

The nursery is still missing a few touches that I want to add - mainly photos and a couple of shelves - but I don't want to wait any longer to share photos.

When you walk in, the armoire is to your left, and then you have the crib, his closet, glider (which you will all recognize from the chair pictures!), and dresser.

The dresser is from Ikea. We have a larger one in white from the same line in Claire's room, and it still looks good after almost 3 years of use. Love Ikea!

Dad and I painted the armoire shortly before Will was born. I really wish I'd taken a "before" photo - it was a major transformation. I've had the armoire since high school. The poly coating had yellowed, and the brass hardware had definitely seen better days. I replaced the knobs and handles and spray painted the hinges. So happy with how it turned out. Still need a photo for that frame...

The quilt was a gift from Lindsay, and will be moved once we stop swaddling him and he has use of his hands while in the crib (which is something that needs to happen, but I'm scared of how it might affect his sleeping!).

The prints above the crib are by Larry Stephenson. We got them at the Main Street Arts Festival the night we got engaged - we bought one of his originals to celebrate, and when the artist saw us admiring these prints, he threw them in for free. We always thought we'd eventually find a place for them, and now they are in our son's room. :) Robert and Dad did the custom framing job. We got some quotes and decided that we could do something ourselves. We found frames that were the right height, and Robert and Dad cut them down to fit. They did a great job!

I love his room and am happy with how it turned out!